Rapid Reaction: Cristall Bounces Back to Help Bears to 3-2 Win

Hershey Bears head coach Derek King knew that the Charlotte Checkers would push back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period, and although his team allowed two goals over the course of the final 20 minutes of regulation, the Bears did just enough to contain their opponent to hold on to pick up a 3-2 win for their first victory of the 2026-27 season.

“We’ve still got to work on that and build off it, but I thought they did a good job with that,” King said. “[Charlotte’s] a good hockey team over there. It doesn’t matter who they have in. They play fast, they forecheck well. So I thought we did a real good job of not giving them a lot of zone time.”

A factor that provided Hershey its two-goal lead in the first period was the play of Andrew Cristall, who King remarked was in need of a bounce-back game, despite putting up an assist in Saturday’s season-opening 5-2 loss.

“The third period last night was definitely not our best and I thought we had a good two [periods], it’s 2-2 going into the third, and we just let it kind of go away,” Cristall said. “But tonight I think the first two were great, maybe a little bit off the gas in the third period but to be able to close that out, it’s pretty great.”

The second-year pro was moved down to Hershey’s third line Sunday as part of a reconfiguring by the coaching staff, and Cristall responded by assisting on both goals in the opening frame.

“[He was] much better, and he knows that. He was a little down after [Saturday’s game], but we talked and he knew he was going to be better,” King said. “We all knew he had more and he was going to be better, but good for him.”

Cristall agreed with his coach and acknowledged the chemistry he had along with Petr Sikora – who netted his first North American professional goal via a one-timer off a rink-wide pass from Cristall – and veteran forward Spencer Smallman.

“Smalls is just the most trustworthy guy you can play with. It’s super fun to play with him. He always has your back, and Siky’s been unbelievable,” Cristall said. “He’s a dog on a bone and he thinks the game well, he can skate well, he plays hard. He’s awesome to play with, so it was a fun night.”

Written by Bears media specialist Jesse Liebman